Luther PHILLIPS

1922 - 2016

PHILLIPS, Luther J. Beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully on September 17, 2016 in Kettering, Ohio. Phillips was born on April 22, 1922 to the late John Luther Phillips and Grace Peters Phillips. He was raised in Three Links, Kentucky and moved to Dayton, Ohio as a young adult. He was a veteran of WWII and served in the 34th Infantry Division (The Red Bulls) during the Italian Campaign. He was wounded three times during his tour of duty and was awarded the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. After the War, he returned to Dayton, traded in his combat boots for steel toed work shoes and secured a job as a machinist. After 35 years of service, he retired from General Motors, and began a second career at Davis Tool and Die, where he retired at 80 years young. Luther is survived by Esther Phillips, his wife of 71 years, and will be dearly missed by daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Larry Daum of Palm City, FL; and son and daughter-in-law, John and Lynn Phillips of Jupiter, FL. Memories of him will be cherished by grandchildren Terry and Elizabeth Daum of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Mandi and David Meyers, of St. Augustine, FL; Angela Parent of North Palm Beach, FL; and great grandchildren Melissa, Sydney, Jonathan, Madi and Jack. He is also survived by his brother Albert (Gladys) Phillips; and sisters: Edna Bowman, Ruby Carpenter and Patricia (Keith) Kincer. Brothers and sisters-in-law, Marie Phillips, Jim Mullins, Margaret and Ray Cline, Corinne Wilson, and dozens of cherished nieces and nephews also mourn his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters, Lou Kingery, Ada Lorraine Mullins, Clarence Phillips, and Lloyd Donald Phillips; son, David Phillips; and granddaughter Kimberly Daum. Before moving to One Lincoln Park in Kettering, OH, Phillips lived in Centerville, OH for more than 50 years. He was a life-time member of the VFW Centerville Memorial Post #9550, and was selected to participate in Honor Flight in 2006. He was also a life-time member of the American Legion Post #598 in Kettering, OH, and a Disabled American Veteran. He was very involved in the Masonic order. As a member of Solar Lodge #730, he served as Master in 1973, and was also involved with the Scottish Rite and Shriners. Throughout his life, bowling was a favorite past time and for more than 30 years he was a regular of the senior bowling league at Poelking Lanes in Belmont. Funeral Services will be held at 1pm Thursday September 22, 2016 at the Tobias Funeral Home-Far Hills Chapel 5471 Far Hills Ave at Rahn Rd. Burial in Centerville Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospital 3229 Burnet Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 in his memory. On line condolences may be made to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com